LILY’S POVI fought back a sob, forcing a strained smile. “It’s okay, Mom,” I lied. We both knew it wasn’t. Nothing about this was okay. Her face crumpled, an ocean of worry and fear etched into every line, deepened by my choice.I squared my shoulders, grabbed my bag, and pushed down the fear clawing up my throat. I had to protect her—no matter the cost. Without another word, I turned and left, the cold evening air biting at my skin as I made my way to Elder Elijah’s estate.The mansion loomed in the distance, each spire reaching toward the sky like skeletal fingers, casting shadows that seemed to grow longer, darker, as I approached. A familiar servant greeted me with a nod, his face blank and impassive, his voice monotone. “Elder Elijah is expecting you.”I nodded back, swallowing hard as he stepped aside, revealing a dim hallway that stretched toward a closed door. My pulse quickened, each beat hammering in my ears as I took slow, reluctant steps toward it. I stopped just outside,
**TRIGGER WARNING(None consensual scene)**LILY’S POVI stepped into the bathroom, feeling like I was dragging my feet through cement. Each step felt slower, heavier. I avoided my reflection at first, but my gaze drifted up—caught, almost unwillingly, by the face staring back at me.It didn’t feel like mine. I saw a girl hollowed out, the edges of her mouth pressed tight, eyes dark and glassy. A stranger. The weight of the silence pressed on me, and a prickle stung the back of my eyes, threatening tears. I clenched my jaw and swallowed. Not here. Not now.My gaze dropped to the counter, to the small pile of clothes waiting for me, mocking me with their presence. The underwear, stark against the cool surface, felt like some cruel emblem of this moment. It sat there, a thing I couldn’t escape, a command in fabric form.I took a shaky breath. My hand hovered over it, fingers twitching, reluctant to touch it, like it might burn. “You have to,” I murmured softly, the sound barely escaping
LILY’S POVAs I stumbled away from Elder Elijah’s house, my heart thundered wildly, each beat a raw reminder of what had happened. I could still feel the ghost of his touch crawling beneath my skin like a poison I couldn’t purge. The taste of him lingered in my mouth.I wanted to scream, to run, but my legs felt like lead. Where could I go? Home? My mother’s face flashed in my mind, her eyes filling with worry, her heart shattering once she knew. I couldn’t bear to see her look at me like that.I wiped away the tears with trembling fingers, willing myself to hold it together. Somehow, without even realizing it, I found myself outside Andrew’s quarters. My stomach twisted into untangleable knots.What would he think if he saw me like this—broken, hollow, smeared with the weight of someone taking advantage of me? I almost turned away, but before I could move, the door swung open.Andrew stood there, his expression softening the moment he saw me. He looked tired, his hair slightly mussed
ANDREW’S POVAs I held Lily close, her frail body trembling, her tears soaking into my shirt, a fire blazed inside me—a raw, consuming anger directed at that monster, Elijah. He was not fit to be an Elder. If anything, he should be hanged on a stake for everyone to see.I’d always sensed he was no good. The way he looked at Lily, his eyes crawling over her with a lecherous hunger, had never sat right with me. I thought I’d protected her before, interrupting his advances. But I’d been wrong.He was smarter and had other means. He’d attacked again—this time more viciously, with a deception I hadn’t foreseen. My jaw clenched, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. Why had I let her go? Why hadn’t I insisted on walking her home?“Andrew…” she murmured, her voice so faint I barely heard it. Her fingers curled weakly into my shirt, as if clinging to the last scraps of safety.I could feel her sorrow, her shame, and my heart ached, knowing that I hadn’t been there for her when she needed me.“L
Andrew’s POVI hesitated, feeling my stomach twist. My voice wavered slightly as I forced the words out. "He… he forced himself on her, Hannah. That monster… he hurt her, both physically and… emotionally. And I’m afraid this might not be the first time."Hannah’s face went pale, her jaw clenching so tightly I could see the muscle twitch. Her voice came out low, simmering with barely contained rage. "How do you know this?"I took a shaky breath, the memory of Lily’s broken voice flashing in my mind. "She told me. Came to me last night, shattered. Scared in a way I’d never seen before. She told me everything."Hannah’s gaze burned into mine, fierce and unyielding. "Andrew," she said, her voice a deadly whisper, "we’re going to handle this. I promise you."I felt the gravity of her words, but I forced myself to stay grounded. "But we need proof," I replied, feeling the weight of reality pressing down on us. "And we need to protect Lily and her mother. Elijah… he won’t stop until he’s des
HANNAH’S POVAs Andrew walked away, my thoughts twisted in a storm of anger and worry. Elder Elijah’s actions were beyond belief—a betrayal so deep it cut through every bond of trust our pack had ever built with him. And the fact that Lily, my dear friend, had been hurt by his hand was unforgivable.I hurried to our room, my chest tight. Inside, I found Xavier and our son, Jackson, playing on the floor. Laughter bubbled up around them, filling the room with light—a sharp contrast to the turmoil inside me.Xavier looked up and immediately saw the worry etched on my face. His smile faded as he stood, his expression shifting from playful to serious. "Hannah," he said, his voice soft but tense. "What’s going on?”Jackson sensed the change too, his small hands grabbing Xavier’s leg. I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Andrew just left,” I said. “He told me... about Elder Elijah. About what he did to Lily.”“What did that bastard do?” he asked. I recounted everything Andr
HANNAH POVFor a second, she just stared at me, shock and fury in her eyes. Then she wiped the blood from her nose, smirking as if savoring the taste of it. “Betrayal hurts, doesn’t it?” she sneered, a twisted smile spreading over her face. “Coby would never betray me because he loves me. You’re nothing but a bitter memory to him.”The rage inside me burned hotter. I saw flashes of Coby’s face—his smile, his desperate promises, the hope I’d foolishly clung to. Was she right? Was everything he showed Xavier and me that day, when he came to see Jackson, a lie?I pushed the thought down, straightening my shoulders and forcing myself to breathe. “You’re wrong, Vivian,” I said coldly, my voice stronger than I felt. “Coby’s love for his son is stronger than any fantasy you cling to.”For a flicker of a moment, doubt shadowed her face, but she quickly covered it with a sneer. “We’ll see about that,” she whispered, retreating with a glint of dark satisfaction. I watched her go, willing my han
VIVIAN'S POVThe sun bore down on me, unforgiving, pressing heat into my skin as I pushed through the crowded street, clutching my nose. Blood trickled down my fingers, warm and sticky.Every throb echoed with her name—Hannah. Her face flashed in my mind, her smirk like a brand. I could still feel the sting of her slap on my cheek. She’d done this. Humiliated me. And she thought she could walk away? No. She was wrong.I pushed through the crowd harder, my grip on my nose tightening against the pain. I ignored the stares as people noticed the blood smeared on my hand. The thought of Hannah’s smug face twisted my lips into a cold, bitter smile.That bitch dared to do that—to me. Rage swelled, scorching away the sting. She’d pay, and she’d pay soon.Weaving through the bustling crowd, I couldn’t help but smirk. Hannah might think she had the upper hand, especially with Coby sticking close to her, but that confidence of hers was nothing more than a flimsy mask. She was about to learn how
COBY’S POVI leaned against the counter, arms folded, the cool edge pressing into my back as I stood there, silent. My eyes stayed on them—Hannah, her arms wrapped tight around Jackson, his head tucked under her chin like it was where he belonged.Her face was hidden, buried in his messy curls, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell if she was smiling or holding back tears. Either way, I wasn’t part of it.Jackson’s laughter cut through the heavy silence like sunlight piercing storm clouds. It was bright, full, and innocent in a way that made my throat tighten.The sound pulled a smile from me despite everything, but it was fleeting. The joy in his laugh felt like a reminder of everything I wasn’t—everything I’d lost.“Can I have pancakes?” he asked, his small, hopeful voice breaking the quiet.“Pancakes?” Hannah repeated, tilting her head to look down at him with a teasing glint in her eye. “Hmm… what about broccoli pancakes instead? So healthy. So delicious.” Her voice was playful, soft—
HANNAH’S POVOnce inside, I led Coby to the dining table and gestured for him to sit. He sank into the chair heavily, as though gravity had claimed a special hold on him.Without a word, I poured him a cup of coffee. The kettle hissed softly, and the bitter scent of the brew filled the air. I placed the mug in front of him, the faint clink against the table the only sound between us. “Here,” I said simply.“Thanks,” he muttered, his voice rough and small. He wrapped both hands around the mug, his fingers trembling slightly. He sipped, his shoulders slumping further, as if the heat in the cup could thaw the cold inside him.I sat across from him, my gaze sharp and unwavering. He avoided it, staring into the dark liquid like it held answers he was too afraid to speak aloud.The Coby I remembered wasn’t this… diminished. He used to carry himself with a sharp-edged arrogance, always ready to cut someone down if it suited him. Now, that sharpness was gone, dulled to something that looked u
HANNAH’S POVI woke to the soft, rhythmic sound of Jackson’s breathing beside me, his little chest rising and falling with such perfect innocence that it made my heart ache. The pale sunlight seeped through the curtains, painting his face in a golden glow. For a moment, I didn’t move, just watched him—the curve of his cheeks, the flutter of his lashes.He looked so peaceful, and in that stillness, I found a fleeting sense of calm. Leaning down, I pressed a gentle kiss to his warm cheek, my lips lingering for a heartbeat.Slipping from the bed, I tightened my robe around me and padded silently to the bathroom. The cool splash of water on my face was like a reset button, wiping away the remnants of sleep. As I dried my face, the thought of pancakes floated to mind—unbidden but welcome. Jackson loved pancakes, especially with a swirl of honey.Back in the bedroom, I changed into Xavier shorts and leggings before pulling my hair into a loose bun.Humming softly, I headed to the kitchen, t
EVA’S POVThe sharp knock at the door tore through my sleep like a blade, yanking me from a fragile dream. I groaned, rolling onto my stomach and pressing my face into the pillow, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave.The knocking came again, harder this time, rattling the thin door. “Whoever it is, go away!” I shouted, my voice thick with sleep and irritation.“Eva! It’s me—please, open up!”Vivian? Her voice cracked, raw and unfamiliar, and an uneasy prickle shot through me. I dragged myself out of bed, my head foggy as I stumbled across the room.She never sounded like that—not Vivian, not the girl who could chew someone out without breaking a sweat.When I pulled the door open, whatever I was about to say died in my throat. She stood there, trembling, barely holding herself upright.Her hair stuck to her forehead in damp strands, and her oversized shirt—definitely not hers—hung awkwardly off one shoulder. But it was her eyes that hit me the hardest. They were swolle
VIVIAN’S POVThe night was alive with tension, each breath of wind carrying the weight of my choices. The six guards surrounded me in a loose circle, their postures sharp, hands resting near weapons that might as well have been unsheathed.Their eyes burned with the kind of suspicion that came only from long, hard training. Predators. My wolf stirred beneath my skin—a coiled spring of instinct and fury. I swallowed it down with a low growl, a sound that straddled the line between warning and restraint.This wasn’t the time. Not yet.I pulled air into my lungs, slow and deliberate, willing my wolf to retreat. The shift back to human form hit like a vice tightening around every bone in my body, each joint snapping into place with brutal finality.When it was over, I stood there bare and trembling, the cool night air a sharp reminder of how fragile this form could feel. My breaths came unsteady, but I forced my voice to remain calm. Steady.“I’m Luna Vivian, wife of Alpha Coby of the Cri
VIVIAN’S POVThe taillights vanished into the yawning dark, swallowed by the endless stretch of road. A lump rose in my throat—sharp and suffocating—and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe.My chest hitched as I choked down a sob that threatened to claw its way free. He’d done it. Coby had really left me—abandoned me—without a second glance, without a shred of hesitation.The cold pressed against my skin like icy needles, but even that was nothing compared to the hollow ache churning inside me.The forest loomed beyond the crumbling pack house, its gnarled branches clawing at the moonlit sky like skeletal fingers. Shadows pooled beneath the trees—dark, alive—and my gut twisted.Rogues could be out there, lurking, watching, waiting. I shivered, but not from the cold. The fear pressed down on me, heavy and relentless, making my pulse race and my breaths come shallow.“Get a grip,” I whispered, though my voice barely broke the silence. My legs felt leaden as I forced them to move, each step
COBY’S POVThe car hurtled down the desolate road, the growl of the engine loud but not loud enough. The chaos in my mind was deafening. My fingers clamped around the steering wheel, nails biting into the leather. My jaw ached from clenching so hard.I had done it. Finally. I had walked away from her for good.But her voice—raw, broken—clung to me like a ghost. “Coby, please! Don’t go! Don’t leave me like this!”Her scream had shattered something inside me, something I wasn’t sure I’d ever get back. Even now, the memory of it tightened around my chest like a vice. But I couldn’t stop. Not after what she’d done.The name came unbidden: that damn Elijah.Just thinking his name made my blood boil. How could she? After everything we had been through, after everything I had sacrificed for her, how could she betray me like this? I slammed my hand against the wheel, the sharp pain in my palm doing nothing to ease the rage burning through me.She had stood there, tears streaming down her face
VIVIAN’S POVHis grip on my throat faltered, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across his stormy eyes. I gasped, dragging air into my burning lungs, coughing as if it might stop the world from spinning.“For us?” His voice dropped to a low growl, quieter now but seething with danger.“Yes!” I choked, my words tumbling out through tears that burned hot trails down my cheeks. “Everything I did, Coby, I did for us. Do you think I wanted this? That I—” My voice cracked, and I gritted my teeth, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.“Do you think I enjoyed it? Being near him, letting him think he had control over me? I hated every second of being with him. But I thought—” I faltered, my voice trembling like brittle glass. “I thought if I gave him what he wanted, we could have his resources and support. It was the only way. For us. For our future.”His fingers twitched, loosening slightly, though they lingered at my throat. His breath was uneven, his chest heaving with restrained rag
VIVIAN’S POV“What truth are you talking about, Coby?” My voice came out sharper than intended, the sharp edge of fear making it crack. I couldn’t help it—the way he’d been acting, the things he’d been saying—it wasn’t like him.Coby didn’t answer. He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked deeper into the ruins, his boots crunching over broken glass and rotting wood.“Coby!” I called after him, my voice rising in pitch—a mix of frustration and panic. My pulse thudded in my ears as I watched his retreating figure. He was acting so strange, so... off.Whatever madness had taken hold of him that night, I had to stop it. I needed to drag him out of that place before something terrible happened—something we couldn’t come back from.He was slipping away—both physically and emotionally—and I couldn’t let that happen. Not now.I hurried after him, stumbling slightly as I tried to navigate the broken remains of the house. The scent of damp wood and decay filled my nostri